KINGSTON, Jamaica – Jamaica has held a special joint sitting of Parliament to honor former Prime Minister Edward Seaga.

Seaga attended the Tuesday session of tributes at Gordon House, the home of Jamaica's bicameral legislature. The 82-year-old still regularly appears at public events.

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The accolades to Seaga are part of Jamaica's celebrations of its 50th anniversary of independence from Britain. The government says he was recognized for his role in creating Jamaica's post-independence landscape.

Seaga was prime minister from 1980 until 1989.

He was Jamaica's longest serving Parliament member, representing gritty West Kingston from 1962 until his 2005 retirement.